Shingles? At MY age??

Kaylesh · Feb 17, 2004

I was only 15 when I had them(now 41).. Had gone to the Doc for a earache and while there my mum said why don't you show the doctor the rash you have..

It was itchy and painful..

Low and behold.. It was shingles.. Had it running down below my sternum around my left side and up my back.. yep followed that nerver path.. Was the youngest patient they had ever had with shingles so i got to be the teaching tool for the hour. lol.. every doc that was on in the office had a look.. Not what a 15 year old girl wants.. sigggh.. ohhh well.. hehehe.. Still that area gets itchy from time to time but fortunately no residual pain least not for me..

Kaylesh

Seelo · Feb 17, 2004

As if having the flu hasn't been miserable enough, I now have an outbreak of shingles on my back. WTH?? I'm only 45.......why on earth am I dealing with this now?
So far, it's not too painful.......the rash is more itchy and irritating than anything else......and the Urgent Care folks put me on Famvir, so hopefully it won't last too long. But now I'm wondering about work---I'm due to go back tomorrow---should I take care of patients when I've got an active case of this crazy stuff? And how dangerous might it be for my co-worker who's 8 months pregnant?
Of all things......sigh.......

I had shingles at 24 and it was super itchy.....one thing that the MD prescribed to relieve the discomfort was an aluminum acetate solution "Burows or Domeboro's solution", (available at your pharmacy). It is also used to help dry up the blisters and oozing.

memphispanda, RN · Feb 17, 2004

My oldest child had shingles at 8. He has had immune issues since he was small (had cancer as an infant). He managed to give chickenpox to my 8 month old as well as all the children I kept in my home daycare. It was crazy.

kids · Feb 18, 2004

Oh cheeze Marla, you are having a month aren't you! Hope you are well soon.

One word for why you got 'em:s-t-r-e-s-s.

My daughter came down with them when she was 15 or 16 and it was definately triggered by being stretched too thin: HS sophmore, taking drama and home ec and was in drama club which was putting on a dinner theater (with the drama & home ec classes), varsity gymnastics and softball.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Feb 18, 2004

STRESS?! WHAT stress?? :eek: :chair: :confused: Just cuz my sister's driving me crazy, and my hubby's out of work, and money is tight, and my son flunked 3 of his classes at the semester, and my immune system has left town making me susceptible to every virus on the planet.......now why would I be stressed?!

I went to work yesterday, knowing I was only at about 50% of normal, but I did it anyway.........bad idea. My body was screaming for rest by 7 PM, and I couldn't stop.......we actually were over our capacity and patients were literally waiting hours for beds, and the admits just kept coming. I still don't know how I made it through the entire shift. Today, I'm not even going to try.....I called in (yet again) this morning, and I'm headed back to bed for some more rest. Part of my problem is not eating enough; I have a terrible time forcing myself to eat when I'm not hungry, and my appetite has been small to nonexistent for over a week.......great for the weight loss, NOT great when I'm trying to build up some energy. That shift yesterday left me so wiped out that I slept almost 12 hours, and it wasn't enough.

So I've got 2 more days to try to pull myself together for my three-day weekend shifts.......wish me luck, because I'm sure not getting over this thing very quickly on my own!

MikeLPN · Feb 19, 2004

I've been visiting my res. at local hospital and updating the DONs. Now in CCU. Family I talked to say it's shingles. My wife :saint: did an internet search; Ramsay Hunt Sydrome - herpes zoster of geniculate ganglion or neuritis of the facial nerve, SX facial palsy and vesicular eruptions of pharynx, external ear, tongue and occipital area. I was just there for the start of it. You learn something new every day.

Moral - If family shows up and wants to occasionally buy and bring in for the resident (even if they're diabetic and you're like Stalin on BS's) and staff :) apple pie (it was the eve before it all hit the fan) smile and say good idea just because. And now I feel better.

Dayray, RN · Feb 19, 2004

I had them in my last year of nursing school (age 29). I was shocked and even though I was pretty sure I knew what they were I just couldn't believe it. The doc confirmed it and they did hurt like hell. They were on my hip and I had bad shooting pains up and down my back and leg.

I was allowed to work after they got past the contagious stage. As long as they are covered, and not oozing only the first week or two are a concern as far as passing them on to someone. Just wash your hands allot and don't scratch.